After the festive celebrations of the 100th Jubilee of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary at the place of origin on October 3rd, the 10th General Congress of the community began on October 4. 59 Delegates with representatives from all provinces of the community have come together to discuss important topics on the threshold to the second century of their existence. As part of the congress programme, the sisters made a pilgrimage of gratitude, prayer, and renewed commitment to the Church. From October 20 to 23, they went to Rome on pilgrimage. As they celebrate 100 years of their history, the Sisters wish to give thanks for the blessings and guidance they have received throughout the past century and to offer their service anew to the Church.
A significant moment of their visit took place on October 21, when the Sisters had the opportunity to participate in the General Audience with Pope Leo XIV. At the conclusion of the audience, they presented the Holy Father with a special gift: A symbol of the Holy Spirit and the gift of their prayers. Through this spiritual offering, the Sisters expressed their closeness to the Pope and their willingness to continue supporting the Church and its mission through their prayer and service.
Following the General Audience, the Sisters traveled to the Cor Ecclesiae Shrine, where they celebrated Holy Mass presided by Archbishop Emeritus Ignazio Sanna of Sardinia, and members of the Schoenstatt Movement in Rome. The Eucharistic celebration was an opportunity to gather in faith, give thanks for the centenary of the community, and renew their commitment to the mission entrusted to them. The day concluded with a shared supper with members of the Schoenstatt Family in Rome, strengthening the bonds of communion and fellowship within the movement.
On October 22, the Sisters continued their pilgrimage with Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, placing their General Congress and the future of their community in the heart of the universal Church. Later that afternoon, they visited the church of San Salvaotorre in Onda, the historic mother church of the Pallottines, where the incorrupt body of St. Vincent Pallotti is laid to rest under the main altar. This visit was a token of gratitude to Saint Vincent Pallotti, and to all Pallottines who have supported and worked alongside the sisters at different locations and different times throughout the course of a century.
As the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary celebrate 100 years of their journey, their pilgrimage to Rome becomes both a thanksgiving for the past and a renewed offering for the future—placing their lives, their prayers, and their mission at the service of the Church.
Photos: Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper
